4.4 Amphorae

There was evidence for three types of amphorae from the excavations at
Brough.

Forty-eight sherds of Dressel 20 (DR20)
amphorae were found, 44 of which were examples of the earlier gritty variety.
These were mostly fragmentary, and included one rim (no.325). The remaining four
sherds were in fabrics more commonly seen in the 3rd century.

A rim (no.326) and a
fragment of a ribbed handle (no.327) appear to represent two separate amphorae of the
Gauloise 12 type (GAU12); both came from the
Period 6 dumps, groups 12.1 and 12.3. There are four other body sherds of
similar fabric, which could be from such amphorae but are less certainly
identified. These are rare, particularly so far north, although this rarity may
be more apparent than real since identification is less likely if occurring as
body sherds only.

This type of amphora has been found in earlier excavations at Brough (Corder
and Romans 1936, 72, fig.7, A.17), viewed
at that time as a two-handled lagena. The form and fabric description leave no
doubt that this is another Gauloise 12. This was found in a pit under the clay
rampart of Period II, south of the east gate, along with other pottery from
below the rampart of probable Antonine date (Corder and Romans
1936, fig.6). These would be the defences
of Period VI (Wacher 1969).

The remaining fragments consisted of eight sherds of Gauloise 4 (GAU4) amphorae of which five were seemingly from
the same amphora.